Colby Couple raise billboard of Jesus on I-70

A painting of Jesus in a wheatfield hangs along Interstate 70 last month in Colby. Tuffy and Linda Kay Taylor erected the billboard for Colby residents and motorists who travel down Interstate 70 at all hours of the day and night.

Colby  For Tuffy and Linda Kay Taylor, it’s a billboard with a powerful message.

Not just for them, they hope, but for Colby residents and motorists who travel down Interstate 70 at all hours of the day and night.

It’s a billboard with no words, however. Only a picture of Jesus Christ in a golden field of wheat, holding up a sheaf — the bounty of life.

‘Something very special’

“It’s a silent message,” said Tuffy Taylor, one of the key people behind the sign. “It’s something very special to my wife and I. To me, it’s one of those things that were so positive in my life.”

The Taylors are the ones behind the construction and installation of the billboard. They weren’t alone, however, as Commercial Signs of Colby helped assemble the pipe and put it up.

Now, it ministers to those passing by, in whatever form they want it to be.

“Everybody has their own beliefs,” Linda Taylor said, and that’s why there’s no message on the billboard.

The Taylors have had to put quite a bit of faith into what they are doing, considering they bought what had been an outlet mall, Southwind Plaza, on the southwest corner of Colby just weeks after 9-11 happened.

“It’s been a battle,” he said of taking such a large property and turning it around from near zero occupancy to what it is today. They’ve also built a Dodge dealership on the property, near the Jesus billboard.

Billboard inspiration

Tuffy Taylor said he has been inspired by photos and billboards in different areas.

“The one that inspired me was one by Norton,” he said.

When he returned home to Colby, he told his wife about it: “Maybe that’s something we need to do?”

That set in motion a series of moves. Linda Taylor runs the Kansas Country Store in the shopping center, and has a woman from Concordia, Phyllis Shanks, who paints on a variety of mediums, including rocks.

“We called her and asked her if she would draw that,” Tuffy Taylor said of how the artwork developed.

Then they had to figure out how to display something that could be seen by so many other people. That’s where Commercial Signs came in. Tuffy Taylor was told what materials would be needed, and so he contacted a brother in Oklahoma who found the pipe for the billboard.

Tuffy Taylor made the drive to Oklahoma to get the pipe and returned to Colby. “My wife and I did the majority of the financing,” he said.

But he’s not so willing to say how much that ultimately was, instead giving credit to donations coming from others. He did, however, admit that had they hired the whole thing done, it would have cost $34,000.

The Taylors are paying the monthly light bill, which amounts to about $200.

But they aren’t taking credit for the billboard. No place will you find any indication that the Taylors are behind it, and Colby officials are in the dark as well.

“My idea, people can look at that and they can make up their own mind,” Tuffy Taylor said of the message the billboard sends. “They don’t have to be told.”

More like this story on LJWorld.com

Comments

I think this is really stupid and mocks Jesus. It borders on blasphemy. All is does is make drivers think all Christians are idiots.
We really need to have more in the paper about other faiths that are practiced in Lawrence.

"They’ve also built a Dodge dealership on the property, near the Jesus billboard."
Jesus says, buy American.
No really, do they have to mention that the billboard is there day and night for drivers to see? It's a billboard, we get that. Go buy one of their Dodge cars so you can drive back and forth by their billboard. this is so gay

It looks like the displaced head of a hippie in a wheat field. Kinda creepy in a surrealist sort of way. It is there money, and they are free to spend it how they wish, and if they wish to promote Farmer Jesus, fine with me.

Love the ad that appears to the side of the story when I clicked on it for the t-shirt that shows Jesus with a hockey stick, and says "Jesus Saves. Passes to Noah ... He shoots. He scores!."

Nice way to insult your Christian readers there LJWorld, all in the name of advertising dollars. Funny.

As stated it is their money and their view. So, when some satanists or an adult store buy space on a billboard out there, will the couple be tolerant of their free speech? I am not a fan of billboards in general, just curious. Seems this could really open up a can of worms. If Jesus can be advertised, why not Satan?

If someone wants to put their beliefs on a billboard with their own money, why not? (Except for the general ugliness of blilboards...)

I think one with a combine harvesting Jesus would be perfect, since after all he is a dying/resurrecting god like so many other deities...he grows, he's cut down, he's planted, he rises again. Perfect.

Good for them. As long as I don't have to pay the christ-toll then they can have it. The faithful will be happy, the skeptics will just laugh a little harder on that stretch of road. The billboard isn't likely to change many people's alliances.

As a Catholic I find the billboard very offensive. These people are to Christians what the Birthers are to Republicans.
I guess I should be used to people on here making fun of religions although most of the negative comments seem directed at the Christians.
I don't seem to have read any about Jews, Mulims, Buddhists, Hindu, Natives, etc.

exactly, rodentgirl! i'd be willing to bet that the comments on these pages are making the ol' JC smile, too! ingenious. funny. smart. lovvin' 'em! oh by the way-i guess it is a bit sacreligious (sp??); i love jesus, too. :)

The first time I read about this billboard the writer referred to it as Jesus "walking" in a field of wheat. Which meant either Kansas grows the world's tallest wheat or Jesus was only 4 foot tall. Now I see it is Jesus "in" a field of wheat and I hope he pre-treated himself for chiggar bites.

"I guess I should be used to people on here making fun of religions although most of the negative comments seem directed at the Christians.
I don't seem to have read any about Jews, Mulims, Buddhists, Hindu, Natives, etc."

Yes, because you see so many huge billboards along I-70 for the mascots of those other religions, right?

HA HA, people are so funny….In order to discourage similar displays of a beliefs which are different from my own beliefs, or lack thereof, I will persecute those who created it, and mock this display, as well as all those who don’t agree with my point of view.

If I continue mocking everyone with whom I disagree, I can shame or scare everyone into thinking and believing exactly what I do. Pretty soon there will be a world of people who only think the way I do. After all, those who don’t think and believe exactly the same as I deserve to be mocked and punished, right?

Congratulations to all those seeking praise of the world and of their fellow man who have already mocked these “different” people. Once we mock them sufficiently we should find something else to distinguish ourselves to make ourselves feel superior.

satirical-"Congratulations to all those seeking praise of the world and of their fellow man who have already mocked these “different” people. Once we mock them sufficiently we should find something else to distinguish ourselves to make ourselves feel superior."

Sati: "HA HA, people are so funny….In order to discourage similar displays of a beliefs which are different from my own beliefs, or lack thereof, I will persecute those who created it, and mock this display, as well as all those who don’t agree with my point of view."

Sati, are you suggesting you don't mock people who have different views than you? Really? (How do we notify the editors that it appears that someone has taken over Satirical's account?)

beatrice...
"Sati, are you suggesting you don't mock people who have different views than you? Really?"

Often I simply engage in a debate and leave the mocking to the trolls. I have never mocked anyone for their religious beliefs or lack thereof. But on some occasions, like today, I like to act as a mirror so people can see how ridiculous they are being. Not liking what you see beatrice?

Sati: "I have never mocked anyone for their religious beliefs or lack thereof. But on some occasions, like today, I like to act as a mirror so people can see how ridiculous they are being."

Oh. For a second there I thought you were saying you don't mock others. Ever. I knew that wasn't the case. Glad to know you clarify that you don't cross the religious (Christian) line. Good for you.

Well, I do not hold back my mocking on the basis of religion, race, gender, political persuasion, or disability. I am an equal opportunity mocker.

Actually, I think the image is wonderfully bizarre and worthy of being mocked as a work of art, but I didn't belittle the people who put it up. I said that it was their money and they should be free to do this if they like. (Actually, I wrote "there" money the first time, because sometimes I mock my own lack of knowledge about the English language.)

However, even if I were to mock them for their religion, so be it. That is what they get for putting it on a billboard! I wouldn't bother mocking them if they kept their religion to themselves, but once they start plastering their beliefs in "Farmer Jesus" for all to see, then they should prepare to be ridiculed. Same is true for those who come knocking on my door to tell me about the made up stuff they believe in.

In other words, I don't mind what I see at all in my posts above at all Sati.

It is offensive to me as a Catholic because it is treating Jesus as a joke. I take my religion very seriously. I also respect those of other faiths and listen to what they have to say.
To me the kind of christian who would put up this billboard represents the Christian faith in the way that the Birthers are representative of the Republicans.
They are on the fringe.

That fits in with the parochial image of Kansas held by most outsiders; along with: The Goat Gland Doctor, Sam Brownback, Dorothy, Todd Tiahrt, Flatness, Fred Phelps, "As Bigoted As You Think", no naturally occurring lakes, anti-evolution teaching, etc, etc. Interestingly, these Jesus images are popping up all over the country; including a big cross along I-35 in Iowa and the really large one with the 12 stations on I-40 near Groom, Texas; this one is so tall it actually reaches heaven. Scared the hell out of me when I spotted for the first time, about midnight!

well, at least it's artistic (although silly) and doesn't have some written message about sinners needing repentance and going to hell. this is jesus country, who could be surprised by such a thing? be happy it isn't covered in hellfire and brimstone nonsense.

I do not know what the billboard looks like (I have my own picture of Jesus), but I do respect the Taylors for exercising their right to free speech. It may be offensive to some of you and a joke to others but it may also be a port in the storm for someone.

OMG....$34k to erect that billboard. Nice to see a local company took advantage of a non-profit situation. Had a billboard (14x48') erected on our property in Colorado just like it for $22,550.00. Got a bid from Commercial Sign for the same thing for $40,500.00. Glad to see they're following their "Christian Values!"

I am from Colby and was horrified when I was out driving and saw this sign had "sprouted". My concern is most people passing down I-70 will not know "Jesus in the wheat field" was one couples idea and jump to the conclusion that it is reflective of the community.